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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Toklat1 on July 23, 2009, 08:00:00 PM

Title: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Toklat1 on July 23, 2009, 08:00:00 PM
When any of you are hunting in the rain and have a bow quiver attatched to your bow, what typically do you use or could be recommended to keep your fletching dry? Is there maybe some  wool bag with a liner w/ draw string perhaps or is there some other creative ingeneous invention out there that you would like to share?  Also, do any of the fletch dry materials work that well. Any input appreciated.  Thanks,
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: robtattoo on July 23, 2009, 08:02:00 PM
I use auto detailing silicon spray on mine. I've never had a problem yet, but saying that, they haven't been treated to a proper downpour.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: D. Devall on July 23, 2009, 08:08:00 PM
haha. some guys at the artac shoot just put plastic bags over theirs. me and ian just let ours get wet and shot as good as they did.

in otherwords i have absolutely no intelligent input but i like to post things.  :D
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Jason R. Wesbrock on July 23, 2009, 08:26:00 PM
Before hunting season, I spray my feathers with Camp Dry. If I'm hunting in the rain, I use plastic sandwich baggies and twist ties around my arrows, leaving one at the ready.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Hot Hap on July 23, 2009, 08:37:00 PM
I use baby bottle liners. Pull on over fletching and punch the nock through the back of the liner. Shoot as is-liner will fall to the ground. Works for me. Hap
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: tarponnut on July 23, 2009, 08:48:00 PM
I use Feather powder from Gateway, it works great and a little goes a long way.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: joebuck on July 23, 2009, 09:06:00 PM
Dry Liquid Wrench.........
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: BowHuntingFool on July 23, 2009, 09:58:00 PM
I use to use the powder, this year I'm spraying mine with camp dry!
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Toklat1 on July 23, 2009, 10:27:00 PM
Keep the ideas coming!
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: purple heart on July 23, 2009, 11:25:00 PM
Grey Goose Feathers are a great choice for wet conditions.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Bill Carlsen on July 24, 2009, 07:30:00 AM
What purple heart said.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: dino on July 24, 2009, 09:37:00 AM
That is what I use, Grey Goose feathers.  Naturally treated, ready to roll and no need to re-apply waterproofing year to year. dino
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: jcar315 on July 24, 2009, 10:15:00 AM
Does the camp dry have an odor after drying?

Hot Hap: You use the bottle liners with the closed end on the nock end of the arrow? I can see how it would fall off when shot. Does it interfere with drawing or the "feel" when @ full draw?

I use the Gateway feather powder and seems to work well but may try some of the other ideas listed too.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Norseman on July 24, 2009, 11:31:00 AM
I am an avid fly tyer and fly fisherman and have an idea.

The water birds....ducks, geese, swans and the like have a preen gland on the bum that these use to smear the CDC oil onto their feathers for waterproofing.  I have a bottle of CDC oil that I use for my dry flies....it floats the flies and repels for an incredibly long time.

Why not go to your local fly shop and ask for some CDC oil or gel and lightly rub some onto your fingertips, then onto the feathers...it is what mother nature gives to the ducks and geese.

Any thougths on that?

Paul
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: frank bullitt on July 24, 2009, 11:42:00 AM
Paul, I have Duck oil that Bill Matlock of Road Runner bows use to sell. It works great, always wondered what the makeup was. Maybe CDC oil? Thanks for the info, good shootin, in the rain! Steve
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: ishiwannabe on July 24, 2009, 12:15:00 PM
The best feather waterproofer I have found is NO SNOW. I believe it is made to treat the whisker biscuits for the wheelies....but it does wonders on feathers. I once undershot into a pond(at the Muzzy) and shook the arrow off and kept shooting it.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: SteveMcD on July 24, 2009, 12:24:00 PM
I use ScotchGuard.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Norseman on July 24, 2009, 12:25:00 PM
Steve.

If it was referred to as Duck Oil...I would bet it is CDC ( Cul De Canard ...french for ducks bum)  or as it is commonly known preen gland oil.

A very famous fly tyer " Rene Harrop" has used it for years and sells it on his fly fishing site, he claims there is NO BETTER water repellant on earth. Having used it for the first time this year on the rivers...I would have to agree
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Steve H. on July 24, 2009, 12:36:00 PM
I've tried LOTS of stuff, many mentioned above, and most of it doesn't work very well if at all.  I have gone to using the same thing on feathers that I use to keep my arrow shafts wtarePROOF,  Helsman Spar Urethane.

I use the canned stuff for feathers instead of dipping for obvious reasons.  Don't overspary or wull will end up with plastic vanes!
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: joe skipp on July 24, 2009, 01:18:00 PM
I use No Snow...works fine for me. I use to throw on a Kathy Kelly cover but the dog ate it...I'm going to get a fletch cover from my supplier at Cover-Up Products. If it rains too hard...I break out the Catquiver 3.5.....
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: BRONZ on July 24, 2009, 03:17:00 PM
Norseman, does CDC have an odor?  After all, it's from a duck's bum.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Toklat1 on July 24, 2009, 04:34:00 PM
I don't think the smell would alarm deer. They're used to the Ducks. This could be a new cover scent for your arrows. Maybe your on to something here.  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Norseman on July 24, 2009, 04:42:00 PM
Bronz..

I can' smell it on my fingers...and the guys at work call me the bloodhound when it comes to odors.  Ducks bum is just a term...it is actually a gland at the base of the tail on a duck....on the top side....not the business end....LOL.

I really think it will work VERY well, it is naturally occurring, if it does have an odor, deer have likely already smelled it and are familiar with it NOT being a threat and it has kept ducks, geese and all waterfowl dry for centuries.  I have found a tiny dab the size of a BB will dress half a dozen flies easily....so it should go a long way on fletching.  I will do some up with CDC when I get a chance and let you know how good they are. I have both Wild Turkey and Canada Goose primaries to work with, so it will make an interesting experiment.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Hot Hap on July 24, 2009, 04:46:00 PM
jcar-I have no problems with the draw or at full draw and notice no extra noise. Yes the closed end goes on the nock. You pull the open end over the feathers. Hap
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: Roy Steele on July 24, 2009, 11:13:00 PM
The CDC oil works fine used it back in my compound days.But for the last 25 years recurve then selfbows for the last 20 years.I use goose or turkey feathers natural oils.
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: azhunter on July 25, 2009, 12:57:00 AM
Camp Dry works great!
Title: Re: Feather fletching dry in the rain
Post by: jhinaz on July 25, 2009, 01:41:00 AM
I began using baby-bottle liners 4 or 5 years ago after reading about them on one of the forums.  The archers that recommended them said you can even shoot the arrow with them on....they said the liners would come off in flight, similar to a shotgun-wad. I tried it and they did come off in flight........but I got a loud BANG upon release, from what was an otherwise quiet shooting bow. They do a great job of keeping the feathers dry and I still use them, but now I remove the liner before shooting, which hasn't been too much of a problem. YMMV. - John